Karen MacNeil, host of the PBS series "Wine, Food, and Friends" and author of The Wine Bible, says that comparing wines to the "personalities" of reality TV shows is a fun way to learn about different types of wines. Here's what she suggests for The Donald and more.
- The Apprentice: Petite Sirah. It could trump Trump at his own game. Tough as nails, thick skinned, and with a structure (read ego) that's monolithic, Petite Sirah isn't petite at all. The name's a cunning ploy…extra points for boardroom subterfuge.
- The Bachelor: Pinot Noir. The very idea of "The Bachelor" has Pinot Noir written all over it. There's the endless-search-for-perfection part (Pinot Noir lovers are relentless in their pursuit). Then there's the sexy subtext of the search (Pinot's texture is as sensual as…never mind).
- Survivor: Vanuatu: Cote-Rotie. The vinous equivalent of the primal scream. Made from syrah grapes in France's northern Rhone Valley, Cote-Rotie seems like a nice red wine - at first sip. But with a little time, all its primitive wild flavors come unleashed.
- Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica: Asti Spumante. Just a little ditzy (I mean: fizzy) and naughty (in a fresh, lively sort of way). Of course, they're exuberant and charming, though a little naïve - the bubbles, that is.
- Growing Up Gotti: Sauvignon Blanc. Flaunting its appeal as the "bad girl" of white grapes, Sauvignon is sassy, wild, dangerous (in a feminine sort of way) and above all, could walk onto the set of "The Sopranos" and give those Chiantis a run for their money.
- Average Joe IV: Shiraz. It may not be flashy or drive fast cars, but there isn't a more loveable red wine around.
- Queer Eye for the Straight Guy: Insider's tip from the Fab 5: drink the style of Sherry called Fino: it's hauntingly dry and powerful.
- The Real Gilligan's Island: Boxed Chardonnay. Not only is it packaged in a seaworthy, unbreakable container but Chardonnay is a perfectly fresh, light wine that's tasty and not too complex to figure out. Save the intellectual complexities for figuring out how to get off the island.
- The Amazing Race: Cabernet Sauvignon. You can travel the world in a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon (it grows in just about every corner of the globe, from Texas to the Golan Heights).
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